A journey of generations
Left: Gabrielle Lavedan, Lourdes Camungol, Pierre Bienvenido Lavedan, Philippe, Yogi, Pierre, and Anna Liza Lavedan, photographed at their Colleyville home. (NTC/Richard Rodriguez)
In Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), Pope Francis reminds us, “All of us are called to keep striving towards something greater than ourselves and our families. … Let us make this journey as families, let us keep walking together” (325).
For the Filipino American Lavedan family of St. Michael Parish in Bedford, the Catholic faith is not just a belief but a way of life. Guided by grandmother Lourdes Camungol, Pierre and Anna Liza Lavedan have joyfully instilled a deep, genuine love for the faith in their three children — Pierre Bienvenido (27), Gabrielle (26), and Phillipe (20) — as they walk this journey together.
HOW THEY MET: Anna and Pierre met while studying medicine at the University of Texas at Houston Medical School. Reeling from failing a particularly difficult exam, Anna jokingly proposed to Pierre during a moment of levity. Amused, he later asked her to join him for dinner, marking the beginning of their relationship. A year and a half later, on December 18, 1993, they were married at St. Michael.
COMMUNITY OF FAITH: After graduating from medical school, the two doctors moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to start their residency. They called Omaha home for the next 20 years.
Raised Catholic, the Lavedans prioritized building a community of faith as they raised their children. They remained active in their local parish and invested in their children’s Catholic education.
“Kids watching their parents connect with their fellow parishioners is very important,” Pierre said. While their children sometimes grew frustrated by the time spent at church, it reinforced the value of investing in one’s community.
“I think that inspires you to become part of that [community] when you’re older, versus a family who just clocks in and clocks out, right?” Pierre continued. “It’s important to invest time with that [parish] and make those friends.”
A GRANDPARENT’S ROLE: Though Lourdes Camungol and her husband Bienvenido remained in Bedford while the Lavedans lived in Omaha, the devoted grandmother ensured distance was never a barrier. A former auditor of American Airlines, Camungol’s frequent work trips to the Omaha branch allowed for regular visits, and her position came with the flexibility to offer available seats to her immediate family, an opportunity her grandchildren used to come visit.
“I would say these kids think they are just taking a taxi to go to Texas,” Pierre chuckled.
Her grandchildren cherished the homecooked meals, devoted attention, and especially “prayer with Momma and Papa,” Camungol recalled. “They had to learn how to pray the Rosary per decade — because there are five of them, so they had one decade each.”
RETURN TO ST. MICHAEL: The Lavedans moved back to Texas in 2014 as their children prepared for university. Before long, they began to reconnect with the parish community at St. Michael.
Following grandmother Lourdes’ example of participating in the Filipino Catholic community, Gabrielle sings in the Filipino choir, serving as a cantor for the Wednesday night Filipino Mass. Her older brother, Pierre, began assisting with sacrament courses, youth formation, and young adult Bible studies last year after completing his master’s degree in sustainability.
“Some of the best experiences that I’ve had with the Church come from when I’m trying to do a service or I’m trying to step in and use my talent for the evangelization of others,” he said.
SPIRIT OF SUCCESS: A graduate of Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, Phillipe Lavedan is now studying engineering at Texas A&M University.
CATHOLIC DOCTORS: Within their professional circles, the Lavedans found strong support among fellow Catholic peers.
“So many good friends were Catholic,” Pierre said. “My wife’s partner in her practice in Omaha was Catholic, and one of the partners in my practice was Catholic and we went to the same church. You know, it was just really nice that way with the community support.”
Now a specialist in palliative and hospice care, Pierre emphasized the importance of balance: “You have your work life, you have your family life, and you have your spiritual life, and you need to try to make sure they all balance out.”
MEETING ADVERSITY: “Faith gives you a spiritual home to help you through any kind of the hardship that you go through in life, you know?” Anna shared. “I think it’s kind of something we pass down to the kids.”
HIDDEN BLESSINGS: As an internal medicine and pediatric doctor, Anna recalled a patient’s wisdom: “The worst thing that happens to you is the best thing that happens to you at that time,” she said.
Reflecting on her own challenges — like her son’s recent layoff, which ultimately led him to a better career path — she realized its truth. The layoff her son experienced was difficult but gave him the experience he needed to begin a desired career.
Even what she had once considered a devastating academic setback, failing a pharmacology test, had proved to become a turning point for the better. “If I did not fail that test, I would not have met Pierre, and we would not be here,” she said.